Jul 02 Watch Kurds push for independence while Baghdad faces political turmoil By PBS News Hour Iraqi Kurds in the country’s northeast are taking advantage of Baghdad’s battle with Sunni insurgents, in hopes of gaining their own state. Kurdish leaders are vowing to hold a vote on independence, a move denounced by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki… Continue watching
Jul 02 Watch Kurds don't want to 'fix Baghdad' at their expense, says Kurdish foreign chief By PBS News Hour Kurdish leaders are making their case for independence, despite U.S. pleas to keep Iraq intact. Chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Warner talks to Falah Mustafa Bakir, head of foreign relations for the Kurdish regional government about the instability of Iraq… Continue watching
Jul 01 Watch Seeking unity amid crisis, Iraqi parliament fails to agree on Maliki replacement By PBS News Hour Minority Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers walked out of a meeting of the new Iraqi parliament after majority Shiites failed to select a replacement for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, escalating fears among citizens as Sunni insurgents advance on the Baghdad. Chief… Continue watching
Jul 01 More US troops to Iraq, raising total to about 750 By Josh Lederman, Associated Press The U.S. is sending another 300 troops to Iraq to increase security at the U.S. Embassy and elsewhere in the Baghdad area to protect U.S. citizens and property, officials said Monday. Continue reading
Jun 27 Watch Unease in Baghdad grows amid echoes of past sectarian strife By PBS News Hour The U.S. is now flying armed drones over Baghdad to protect U.S. civilians and military forces in the Iraqi capital, the Pentagon confirmed. Also, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that ISIL conducted mass executions of more than 160… Continue watching
Jun 23 Watch Kerry urges Iraq's embattled premier to use more inclusive government to oppose ISIL By PBS News Hour Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a stern warning during a visit with the Shiite-led Iraqi government, urging immediate and united action to stand against ISIL. Meanwhile government forces lost control of the entire frontier with Syria and Jordan and… Continue watching
Jun 21 Watch Militants gain ground in Iraq near Syrian border By PBS News Hour Sunni extremists continue to gain ground in Iraq and now militants led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have captured the town of al Qaim on the border with Syria. Alison Stewart speaks with Gideon Rose… Continue watching
Jun 21 As alliances blur in Mideast, US and Iran are potential partners By Associated Press For years, Iran has been an archenemy of the United States. Now, with alliances blurred in the Mideast, the two countries are talking about how to stop an offensive in Iraq by al-Qaida-inspired insurgents. Continue reading
Jun 20 Watch Iraqi Shiite leader calls for working government as ISIL advances toward Baghdad By PBS News Hour In Iraq, the country’s most influential Shiite cleric urged the newly elected governing body to convene quickly and choose a speaker and a president to counter the insurgency. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said it expects Iraq to agree to legal protections… Continue watching
Jun 18 Watch ISIL attacks Iraq's main oil refinery By PBS News Hour Sunni militants forced their way into Iraq’s biggest oil refinery as they continued their push south toward Baghdad. But the Iraqi army says it has driven off the Islamist-led insurgents attacking the Baiji complex, and that 40 attackers have been… Continue watching